Is it hot in here?
Today…
is the birthday of Coretta Scott King (1927-2006). As I’ve mentioned before, I was working in the building next door to the church on M Street when memorial services were held for her. It was an all-time favorite for people-watching. As various Black luminaries arrived – you know, your Rep. John Lewis, your Al Sharpton, your Jesse Jackson – a roar would go up from the crowd. Then a GWB White House official would appear and it was like someone had pressed the mute button. I mean silence. It was amazing.
I think I’m running a low fever following Moderna #2 yesterday. Can’t be sure because one of these children misplaced the thermometer, but it hardly matters. I know I feel warm and achy all over, and I would take something either way, but the confirmation would be a nice addition to my pity party.
Abortion
The Nation | Will the Biden Administration Get Bolder on Improving Abortion Access? | Amy Littlefield
Arkansas
KNWA-TV | New law prohibits organizations that offer abortions from teaching sex education in Arkansas schools | Cassandra Webb
Florida
WFSU-TV | Fate Of "Disability Abortions" Proposal Unclear As Legislative Session Winds Down | Robbie Gaffney
Idaho
Idaho Press | Senate passes health care funding, abortion bills, puts off veto override 'til Friday | Betsy Russell
Illinois
WTVO-TV | Planned Parenthood seeks to end abortion notification requirements for Illinois minors | Moyo Adeolu
Montana
AP | Montana governor signs 3 bills restricting abortion access | Iris Samuels
More from Flathead Beacon, The Hill, Missoulian, KRTV-TV
North Dakota
The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead | Bill penalizing North Dakota universities with ties to abortion providers heads to governor's desk | Michelle Griffith
Oklahoma
CNN | Oklahoma governor signs near-total abortion ban into law | Caroline Kelly
KOCO-TV | Newly signed anti-abortion bills in Oklahoma expected to be met with lawsuits, attorney says | Perris Jones
More from AP, The Hill, KFOR-TV, KOCO-TV, KTUL-TV, KWTV-TV, The Oklahoman. Public Radio Tulsa, Tulsa World
LGBTQ
Reuters | U.S. Supreme Court spurns case over California LGBT rights-related policy | Lawrence Hurley
More from ABA Journal, Bloomberg, Courthouse News Service, The Hill, Texas Tribune, USA Today
Esquire | Caitlyn Jenner’s Campaign Provides Cover for Republicans’ Hateful, Anti-Trans Legislation | Abigail Covington
JD Supra | Is School Policy for Transgender Student Bathroom Use Discriminatory Under Title IX? | Kayla Platt Rady
LGBTQ Nation | Biden administration says it’s unconstitutional to put a trans woman in men’s prisons | Alex Bollinger
The Advocate | Biden's Justice Dept.: Prisons Must Assure Safety of Trans Inmates | Trudy Ring
Connecticut
Jezebel | Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit That Would Allow Schools to Misgender Trans Athletes | Emily Alford
LGBTQ Nation | The Trump administration scrambled to support this hate group’s lawsuit. A judge just threw it out. | Alex Bollinger
Michigan
Michigan Advance | Bills you may have missed, from cutting income taxes to banning gay conversion therapy | Andrew Roth
Ohio
Cincinnati Enquirer | Ohio to allow transgender people to change gender markers on their birth certificates | Jackie Borchardt
Pennsylvania
The Hill | Pennsylvania gov says he'll veto ban on transgender athletes in women's sports | Olafimihan Oshin
West Virginia
Charleston Gazette-Mail | Justice would 'proudly' sign trans athlete ban as state attorneys review the bill | Lacie Pierson
WOWK-TV | Transgender student-athlete bill still on Governor’s desk | Larisa Casillas
Pregnancy & Parenting
Washington Informer | Racial Disparities in Maternal Health Care Glaring Amid Pandemic | William Ford
California
San Francisco Chronicle | Pandemic baby bust unprecedented in Bay Area, California history | Susie Neilson
Minnesota
The Daily Yonder | Report: As Obstetrics Units in Rural Hospitals Close, Black Rural Moms and Infants Face Higher Mortality Rates | Liz Carey
Work & Money
CNBC | Top Democrat on House tax-writing panel to unveil sweeping benefits, credits for families | Thomas W. Franck
More from CNN, Los Angeles Times, POLITICO
Fast Company | What a year in lockdown taught us about how we really want to live | Aimee Rawlins
Forbes | Survey: Working Parents Will Quit Without Remote Work | Christine Michel Carter
Forbes | Effects Of The Pandemic: The Gender Gap Grew By 36 Years In Just 12 Months | Shelley Zalis
Ms. | Why Caregiving Is Key to Biden’s American Jobs and Families Plan | Ann O'Leary, Julie Kashen
Nature | The long(er) road to gender equality | Editorial
New York Times | A New Benefit Raises an Old Question: Which Mothers Should Work? | Claire Cain Miller, Emily Badger
Prism | Harassment and threats shouldn’t be ‘part of the job’ for women in media | Carolyn Copeland
UPI | States challenge religious exemption for contractors in hiring, firing | Pamela Manson